Kerala state has four operational international airports as of 2023 and is, along with Tamil Nadu, an Indian state with four international airports.[1] Kerala is also the only state with the closest proximity to multiple international/domestic airports in the country. All four international airports lie in very close proximity, which makes it easy for the people in Kerala to access air travel. The state also has four defence airports that are widely used by the Indian Armed Forces. Airports in Kerala[2] provide domestic transport, support tourism in Kerala and also serve the high number of expatriates belonging to the state. The presently operating airports in the state of Kerala are as follows:

The first airport was started in Quilon during the 1920s but ceased operation when an accident involving a training aircraft at the boundary of the aerodrome resulted in the death of the pilot and the trainee.[3] There are two defence airports also situated in Kerala, each being operated by the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

Cities served ICAO IATA Airport name Category Ownership Status Image
Kannur VOKN CNN Kannur International Airport International PPP Operational
— — INA Ezhimala Defence Indian Navy Operational
— — Kannur Territory Aerodrome Defence Indian Army Operational
Kochi VOCI COK Cochin International Airport International PPP Operational
VOCC — INS Garuda Defence Indian Navy Operational
Kollam — — Kollam Airport Domestic Travancore Kingdom Closed[4][5]
Kottayam,

Pathanamthitta

— — Sabarimala International Greenfield Airport Future PPP Future
Idukki — — Sathram Airstrip Airstrip NCC (India) Operational
Kozhikode,

Malappuram

VOCL CCJ Kozhikode International Airport International AAI Operational
Kozhikode — — Thiruvambady International Airport Future PPP
Thiruvananthapuram VOTV TRV Thiruvananthapuram International Airport International PPP (Owner: AAI Operator: ATIAL Adani Group) Operational
— — Southern Air Command Defence Indian Air Force Operational
Kasargod — — Bekal Airport Future Future

References

  1. ^ "Kerala set to get a fourth international airport in Kannur". Hindustan Times. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Airports in Kerala". Iris Holidays. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response". The Hindu. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Runway: Team visits Asramam Maidan". TNIE. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  5. ^ "'Asramam Maidan not suitable for airport'". TNIE. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  • Chandran, VP (2018). Mathrubhumi Yearbook Plus - 2019 (Malayalam Edition). Kozhikode: P. V. Chandran, Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Limited, Kozhikode.
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